The conference was chaired by Sir Michael Bichard, Executive Director, Institute for Government. About 300 delegates from voluntary organisations, refugee community organisations, housing associations, local authorities and other agencies attended. In the morning session the speakers were Donna Covey, Chief Executive, Refugee Council, and John Vine, Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency. Paul Kenyon, Reporter and Producer, BBC Panorama, spoke in the afternoon session, and also participated in a panel with Jonathan Ellis, Director of Policy & Development, Refugee Council, Abdirahman Ali, Coordinator, Afro-British Support Services (IMPACT), and John Vine.
Seven workshops were held during the morning, and again during the afternoon. These workshops were on the topics of Health access and entitlements, Unaccompanied children in the asylum system , Asylum support and destitution , Detention, removals and returns, After status – the transition to mainstream services, Limited leave and earned citizenship, and EU and international asylum policy.
